Melissa- Brazilian Luxury at Your Feet

Shoes that redefine the luxury footwear industry. We present to you, Melissa. A footwear brand that has changed the industry to make it more stylish, fashionable and the best aspect? Sustainable and recyclable. Known to create their footwear from a chunk of plastic to something so classy in just 26 seconds, this Brazilian luxury brand is a brand that genuinely enhances creativity. It’s a creative expression of various artists, architectures and even designers.

Their motto remains-

‘Express Yourself Through A Shoe. With This Idea, We Permit Creative Liberty Capable Of Creating Icons’

Melissa was one of the first brands to start collaborating with various other artists to create collections that got women flocking for their shoes. It has also collaborated with the avant-garde fashion pioneers like Vivienne Westwood, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Karl Lagerfeld.

Rightly said by Gilberto Gil,

'Brazil was, is, and will be in fashion.’

Melissa, with the Campana brothers, has brought out the true essence of Brazilian fashion and the ‘Brazilianess’ to the world.

So what makes this brand stand out? Let us explore the world of Melissa, with its 40+ years of experience, 32 million pairs and counting shoes produced, innumerable celebrities and artist collaborations, and today, sold in more than 90 countries.

World Of Melissa

Founded in the year 1979, this young brand brings into the routine designs from big names in fashion, art, and even architecture. It drew its inspiration straight from the sea. Born in the coastal country of Brazil, The fashion world was disrupted once the shoe was released. Ruchi Sally, the Managing Director of Melissa, India says that, “In 1979, the aim was to transform plastic into fashion. It became an immediate success and became the fashion symbol in Brazil. Since then till now we always give a reminder to ourselves that everyday search for an extraordinary. This is our inspiration. Our manifesto is what we are. We belong to the world and diversity is our world.”

One of the most iconic designs, the Aranha model, originated on the feet of French Riviera fishermen. In no time, it caught on with the Brazilian vibe to become one of the most popular shoes around. Melissa is famous for its democratization of design. It’s a blending post of art; all forms of art come together at Melissa to give birth to something new and fresh.

Mellisa’s iconic shoes also include the Campana collection. The theme of Campana work is ‘In order to belong to the world, first, we need to embrace our own backyard. It is by carrying a country’s culture that crosses boundaries’. In one step, Melissa Campana went from Brazil to Italy, from São Paulo to Rome. It’s a combination of the old and the new worlds to create Barroca, a Melissa collection where everyday Brazilian life meets the most refined of all arts.

You can find artistic galleries of Melissa in New York, London and Sao Paulo. Their first flagship store was opened in the heart of the famous city, Oscar Freire. The designers and stylists out here believe that Melissa is more than just a shoe brand. It is a way to express art or them. In 2014, they inaugurated their headquarters in the UK at Covent Garden. Being the homeland of Vivienne Westwood and Gareth Pugh, the London galleria takes an extra dose of bossa in plastic.

In 2009, Melissa completed 30 years in the industry and to commemorate this occasion, the brand materialized its journey and world into its first magazine, called the Plastic Dreams.

The Melissa Experience

The luxury industry is all about the experience. So what made Melissa special? Melissa came up with something that the world would talk about. Upon passing any Melissa store in the world, you’d get a familiar smell. A smell that reminds you of childhood and adult lives too. It is a part of your memories and will always remind you of Melissa shoes. To authenticate your Melissa experience, all original Melissa shoes are made to infuse with a sweet and distinct bubblegum smell.

This also became a technique for its loyal customers to authenticate Melissa shoes. The scent doesn’t last forever, but it remains for a few months. Some users have also said that it lasted for years.